The 2012 topos are now routable but appear to show less info than the older versions, all of which need to be purchased.
There are free topos available at http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/, some of which are very good and you can load these into Basecamp and the Montana as needed.

It really depends on the area....some of the maps are better, some aren't. Google and Mapquest have great maps but you'll have to convert your routes created in these to get them into Basecamp.

"Note: some devices (like the Garmin Montana) automatically reconnect after ejecting. You can prevent this by letting CleanEject not to eject the device, but to de-activate it instead. It somewhat the same thing: the volume is closed so that file corruption cannot occur; the difference is that the device will not be switched off.

This can be accomplished by putting a text file with the name unmountme.txt in the root folder of the device. When you have a Garmin Montana it is sufficient to place this file on the SD card only."

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Heh, I just yank the cable out as soon as I see the drive icons disappear off my desktop and my Mac never complains.

I must be stupid or something, I've looked around a bit but have had no luck answering my question. Please help, or tell me to piss off if I just haven't searched enough.

I am using google Earth to enter all of the TAT points off of my roll chart ( I just finished TN ). When I save the .kml file and convert to a .gpx, to load a track it works...that is fine I suppose. BUT, the track travels from point to point, and does not follow roads. I converted the track to a route, and then back without success. How do I make the path I must follow take roads as opposed to straight lines?

The 2012 topos are now routable but appear to show less info than the older versions, all of which need to be purchased.
There are free topos available at http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/, some of which are very good and you can load these into Basecamp and the Montana as needed.

It really depends on the area....some of the maps are better, some aren't. Google and Mapquest have great maps but you'll have to convert your routes created in these to get them into Basecamp.

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So I checked out that thread,and if I understand it correct-CNNA is what I have (which I confirmed when I checked "maps" in my BC) in my basecamp(BC). That will only show me so many roads. If I want to see more roads in BC when mapping out a route then I can buy Garmins 24 or 100k dvd's which will only allow me to use them in bc while making a route or track. I can also buy the sd card but will need to plug in my gps in order to see the extra roads-is that correct?
I did wonder about that the other day,so I plugged in my montana which came with the 100k map,but when I plugged it into my MAC while in BC I didn't see any of those roads I was looking for (that I could see in my paper map). Does that mean I'd need to buy the 24k maps in hopes to find those roads? Also does that mean that when I get to that area of UT, I'll need the 24k sd card in my montana in order to see those roads?

Does that mean I'd need to buy the 24k maps in hopes to find those roads? Also does that mean that when I get to that area of UT, I'll need the 24k sd card in my montana in order to see those roads?

This aint easy:eek1

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The TOPO 24K maps have more roads than CNNA, but not all of the TAT. For example, they don't have that section your struggling with right now. I also prefer to follow routes instead of tracks so am interested in your quest to set up mixed direct and road routing routes. I didn't have a Montana last year so didn't have that option, but I think it can be done.

Heh, I just yank the cable out as soon as I see the drive icons disappear off my desktop and my Mac never complains.

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As long as your timing is right, it sort of works to do that but that does nothing about all the empty and useless directories which get left behind. I used to use your method but I'm glad a better solution now exists.

As long as Montana is plugged in I get to see 100K on BC- pull the plug and it only retains global maps. I'm thinking I'd rather have the SD 24K on board the GPS vs the CD which plays primary on the PC.

As long as your timing is right, it sort of works to do that but that does nothing about all the empty and useless directories which get left behind. I used to use your method but I'm glad a better solution now exists.

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Hmm, where does it leave those directories? I've never stumbled across them.

Good doG awlmighty.... I thought that I was close to getting what looks like a new release of the unit but having to soak all of this in is baffling me and keeping me with 2 478's and one of those for back up. Maybe after the first of the year and have my wife drive me everywhere. Dang scary for a computer set up phobe. Looks like a college course that changes frequently. Somebody should scan this all and put together a comprehensive book for this and make GMan look more foolish than they already do.

Good doG awlmighty.... I thought that I was close to getting what looks like a new release of the unit but having to soak all of this in is baffling me and keeping me with 2 478's and one of those for back up. Maybe after the first of the year and have my wife drive me everywhere. Dang scary for a computer set up phobe. Looks like a college course that changes frequently. Somebody should scan this all and put together a comprehensive book for this and make GMan look more foolish than they already do.

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So you're willing to judge the Montana based on one person's problems with BaseCamp? You don't need to be a "Rocket Doctor" to use the Montana. It's an awesome device, with a learning curve, but once you've used it for a while you will never go back to an antique gps.